2016 Education, School & Day Care Guide

Whether it’s day care and preschool or high school and college, choosing the right educational path for your children is a common anxiety among most parents. So to make the process a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of Ocala and Marion County’s education options to help guide your way.

Achieve Learning Center

623 NE 27th Ave., Ocala › (352) 620-2555 › achievelearningcenter.org

Achieve Learning Center offers day care, a free VPK program and after-school care to older children. The center is open from 7am until 6pm and offers a structured atmosphere with plenty of circle time, arts and crafts, cooperative learning and dramatic play.

Alphabet Land welcomes children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age, including a free school-year or summer VPK program. Before and after-school care with pickup and drop-off at local schools is also available.

Ambleside School of Ocala

507 SE Broadway St., Ocala › (352) 694-1635 › amblesideocala.com

Ambleside offers a private, Christian education not committed to any particular denomination to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Ambleside accepts Step Up For Students scholarships and offers scholarships through its school board.

Angels in Arms

33 SW 16th Pl., Ocala › (352) 622-6167 › angelsinarms.com

Open since 1988, Angels in Arms is sponsored by Blessed Trinity Church and offers care for children 4 weeks through 5 years of age. Angels in Arms offers learning centers and group activities, which give children the opportunity to play, experiment and discover.

Belleview Christian Academy

6107 SE Agnew Rd., Belleview › (352) 245-6151 › bcaknights.com

Belleview Christian Academy offers a private, Christian education for students in pre-K3 through eighth grade. The school offers a 15:1 student-teacher ratio, chapel services, music, PE and art classes.

Blessed Trinity Catholic School

5 SE 17th St., Ocala › (352) 622-5808 › btschool.org

Blessed Trinity offers a Catholic education for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and is associated with the Blessed Trinity Catholic Church. The school educates approximately 700 students, with 97 percent of graduates attending Trinity Catholic High School.

Bright Beginnings offers care for children ages 1 through 4, including a free VPK program, as well as an after-school program that picks up from Belleview Elementary, Belleview Christian Academy, Harbour View Elementary and Stanton-Weirsdale Elementary. The center also offers Saturday night care and a fun summer program.

Certified teachers and staff at BBO Preschool offer a nurturing atmosphere for children 2 months through 12 years of age. The school offers a free VPK program, after-school care for school-age students and part- and full-time programs as well as fun extracurricular activities.

Building Blocks West

6158 SW Hwy 200, #100, Ocala › (352) 291-9204 or (352) 291-9205

Providing care for infants through preschoolers, Building Blocks West offers free VPK, before and after care and drop-in care for the hectic days when you can’t find a babysitter. A structured curriculum, computer programs and homework tutoring are also available.

Capstone Child Care Academy

7794 SW 60th Ave., Ocala › (352) 351-3777 › capstonechildcare.com

Capstone welcomes children ages 1 through 5 for their preschool education, including a free VPK program. The school also offers an after-school program for school-age children up to 12 years of age and picks up at Hammett Bowen Elementary.

Carousel Early Learning Center

1842 SE 11th Ave., Ocala › (352) 351-2369 › carousel-elc.com

Carousel offers care for children 6 weeks of age through pre-K, including free VPK classes from 8:30-11:30am. All classrooms have cameras that can be viewed live over the Internet. Wraparound care and after care are also available.

The College of Central Florida offers a variety of certificates, diplomas and degrees through on-campus and online classes. CF offers bachelor degrees in nursing, early childhood education, agribusiness management, health care management and more. The CF Financial Aid Office can help students plan for college expenses.

Community Technical & Adult Education (CTAE)

1014 SW 7th Rd., Ocala › (352) 671-7200 › ctae.edu

CTAE offers adult education in a variety of fields, including commercial culinary, cosmetology, firefighting, massage therapy, medical billing, nursing assistant, phlebotomy and welding. The school also offers continuing education courses as well as GED and ESOL programs and leisure classes in cooking, dance and language.

Counts provides child care and education for children ages 12 months through pre-kindergarten, including a free VPK program from 9am to 12pm with after care available. Part- or full-time child care is offered for younger kids.

Creative Beginnings Preschool

5870 SE 85th Ln., Ocala › (352) 470-6711

Creative Beginnings offers care for infants and children through 5 years of age, including a free VPK program for 4 year olds. The 6,000-square-foot facility offers 10 classrooms, a library, a computer room and three playgrounds. Beyond the classroom, the preschool offers a weekly chapel and music classes.

Creative Kids offers care for children 6 weeks of age through 12, including a certified VPK program. The preschool program offers a structured weekly curriculum, and lunches and snacks are provided. The school also offers the XTREME Kids after-school program and summer camp.

Crossroads Academy

3681 NE 7th St., Ocala › (352) 694-4466 › crossroadsacademyocala.com

Crossroads is a private school that specializes in helping third- through 12th-grade students who have dyslexia, hyperlexia, auditory processing disorders and dysgraphia. The program accepts McKay Scholarships and uses several Lindamood-Bell programs.

Dunnellon Christian Academy

20831 Powell Rd., Dunnellon › (352) 489-7716 › dcaeagles.com

Affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Dunnellon, this school offers a private, Christian education for infants through 12th-graders. Dunnellon Christian Academy offers scholarships awarded through its school and also accepts the McKay and Step Up For Students scholarships.

Offering a free VPK program as well as a structured preschool curriculum for children ages 2 through 5, Family Ties takes pride in its staff-to-child ratio and certified and CPR/first aid-trained teaching staff. The center also offers holiday, summer and vacation care for children up to 12 years.

First Assembly Christian School & Daycare

1827 NE 14th St., Ocala › (352) 351-1913 › facs.ocalafirst.org

First Assembly is a Christian educational program for infants and preschoolers as well as school-age students through 12th grade, including a free VPK program. The school accepts the Step Up For Students scholarship.

First Steps Preschool

2801 SE Maricamp Rd., Ocala › (352) 629-5683 › fbcocala.org

First Steps is affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Ocala and offers care to infants and children through age 4. Chapel and library time is scheduled weekly for children ages 3 and 4, and music time is scheduled for children ages 2 through 4.

Grace Christian School

4410 SE 3rd Ave., Ocala › (352) 387-3090 › gcsocala.com

This private school offers K-3 and K-4 programs as well as an elementary and middle school program. Grace Christian School offers a tuition assistance program and accepts the Step Up For Students scholarship. A weekly Anglican church service is held in the outdoor courtyard.

Offered through the Grace Episcopal Church of Ocala, this VPK program is free to any child who is 4 years of age by Sept. 1. Early care, extended programs and wraparound care are available until 4pm, five days a week.

GraceWay Academy and Preschool

2255 SE 38th St., Ocala › (352) 629-4523 › gracewayacademy.org

Associated with Grace Presbyterian Church, GraceWay offers care for children ages 2 through fifth grade, including a free VPK program. The school accepts Step Up For Students scholarships and offers weekly Bible lessons and chapel as well as after-school care, gymnastics classes, music and Spanish.

Open since 1946, Happy Hearts is a non-denominational preschool offering half-day classes for children beginning at 18 months of age and extending through age 6 for children who wish to delay kindergarten enrollment. The school also offers a VPK class for children who are 4 by Sept. 1.

Affiliated with Highlands Baptist Church, this center offers care and education to children 8 months through 12 years of age, including a free VPK program. Opened in 1972, the school offers bus transportation from Ward Highlands and Maplewood Elementary for children enrolled in after-school care.

Kinderoo Children’s Academy

5180 SW 60th Ave., Ocala › (352) 854-3800 › preschoolinocalafl.com

Kinderoo offers child care and preschool for children beginning at age 1 and a free VPK program for children who are 4 before Sept. 1. Full- and part-time programs are available as well as drop-in care and summer and winter camps.

Liberty Christian is a private school made up of individual home-educating families. The school is accredited by the Florida Council of Private Schools and offers education to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Marion Technical Institute

1614 E Fort King St., Ocala › (352) 671-4765 › marionschools.net/mti

MTI is a public high school offering technical and classroom education for junior and senior high school students. Students earn a high school diploma while also receiving practical career experience in automotive technology, building sciences, business and finance, culinary arts, logistics, law, IT and robotics.

Meadowbrook Academy

4741 SW 20th St., Bldg. 1, Ocala › (352) 861-0700 › mbaocala.org

Affiliated with Meadowbrook Church, this school offers a Christian education for children in grades kindergarten through 12th grade. The school offers both morning and afternoon care and accepts the Step Up For Students scholarship.

Meadowbrook College

4741 SW 20th St., Ocala › (352) 873-3767 › mbcschoolofministry.com

Meadowbrook College offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Ministerial Leadership program and a two-year Associate of Ministerial Leadership program, both through Southeastern University. Financial aid is available, and students receive hands-on ministry experience through Meadowbrook’s Ministry Tracks.

Montessori House offers education for infants through children in fifth grade. Computers are present in preschool and elementary classrooms, daily Spanish classes are offered in every classroom and Fridays are dedicated to extracurricular activities, including art, music, Spanish, science and sign language.

This school features classrooms for children 3 months through sixth grade. All classrooms contain beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of learning, and the elementary curriculum is a blend of Montessori and traditional, so students can succeed in middle school.

Ocala Christian Academy

1714 SE 36th Ave., Ocala › (352) 694-4178 › ocacrusaders.org

Ocala Christian Academy offers a private, Christian education to children 3 years of age through 12th grade and accepts the Step Up For Students and McKay scholarships. The school offers a competitive athletic program for middle and high school boys and girls.

Affiliated with the Ocala First United Methodist Church, this preschool welcomes 2 and 3 year olds and offers free VPK and VPK with extended hours for 4 year olds. Half-day and two- and three-day programs are available for younger children, and early care is available starting at 7:30am.

Promiseland Academy

3732 NE 7th St., Ocala › (352) 694-1473 › ocalafirstnaz.net

Promiseland is a Christian-based preschool affiliated with First Church of the Nazarene offering care to children ages 1 through 4 and a free VPK program. VPK wraparound care and before and after care are also available.

Queen of Peace Children’s House Montessori

6455 SW SR 200, Ocala › (352) 854-2181 › qopchildrenshouse.com

Queen of Peace Children’s House, affiliated with the Queen of Peace Catholic Church, is a Montessori school focused on educating children ages 3 to 5. This school offers a free VPK program, as well as after-school and extended care and daily Bible teaching and prayer.

Rasmussen College

4755 SW 46th Ct., Ocala › (352) 629-1941 › rasmussen.edu

Rasmussen College offers certificates and associate and bachelor’s degrees in programs such as business, graphic design, early childhood education, health sciences, justice studies, nursing and technology. Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available.

Redeemer Christian School

155 SW 87th Pl., Ocala › (352) 854-2999 › redeemerlions.com

Affiliated with Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Redeemer offers a private education to students beginning at 3 years of age through high school. The school accepts the Step Up For Students and McKay scholarships and also offers an in-house scholarship.

Affiliated with Riverland Baptist Church, this school educates students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and accepts the Step Up For Students and McKay scholarships. The school utilizes the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum and offers volleyball, basketball and cheerleading.

Small Talk offers care to infants through children in middle school, including a free VPK program for children 4 years of age. Transportation to and from select elementary and middle schools is available as well as before and after care for older kids.

Souls Harbor Christian Academy

12650 SE County Hwy 484, Belleview › (352) 245-6252 › shcaonline.com

Founded in 1979 by Souls Harbor First Pentecostal Church, Souls Harbor Christian Academy educates students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Scholarships are available, and students are given the opportunity to participate in drama activities and sports such as flag football and basketball.

St. John Lutheran School

1915 SE Lake Weir Ave., Ocala › (352) 622-7275 › stjohnocala.org

Affiliated with St. John Lutheran Church, this school serves children beginning in pre-K3 through high school. St. John Lutheran offers in-house financial aid, and the preschool division offers half- and full-day programs. The school also offers a competitive athletic program with a wide range of sports.

Saint Leo University, Ocala Education Center

3001 SW College Rd., Bldg. 20, Ocala › (352) 671-3391 › saintleo.edu

At the Ocala Education Center, Saint Leo offers on-campus classes during the evenings and weekends as well as online and distance learning classes. Programs offered include a Bachelor of Arts in accounting, criminal justice, human services, elementary and middle grades education, psychology and business administration; a Bachelor of Science in computer information systems; and a Master of Education.

St. Paul’s Christian School

800 SE 41st Ave., Ocala › (352) 694-4219 › stpaulschristianschool.org

Affiliated with St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Christian School welcomes children ages 2 through 4 and offers a free VPK program as well as an advanced K-4 program.

Step-by-Step Success offers a variety of services for children with autism and other developmental disabilities, including a private school program. Some insurances are accepted, and private pay options, scholarship programs and finance options are available.

Sylvan Learning of Ocala

3231 SE Maricamp Rd., Ocala › (352) 622-6284 › sylvanlearning.com

Sylvan offers extensive tutoring services for students in kindergarten through high school. The facility also offers a variety of other programs, including an accelerated after-school program and Sylvan EDGE, which includes robotics and coding for kids.

Taylor College

5190 SE 125th St., Belleview, › (352) 245-4119 › taylorcollege.edu

The college’s School of Nursing offers LPN to ADN bridge, practical nursing and professional nursing options and is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education. They also offer a variety of career prep, associate degree and diploma programs.

Available programs include a pre-K3 and 4 as well as elementary and middle school. This independent private school also offers a vigorous STEM program and has instituted the Tribes Program since 2006. Before care and after care are available, and the school offers need-based financial aid and accepts the Step Up For Students scholarship.

The Reading Clinic

1333 SE 17th St., Ocala › (352) 867-0027 › thereadingclinicschool.com

The Reading Clinic specializes in children with learning differences in the area of written and oral language. The core curriculum provides instruction in all traditional subjects, including math, science, geography, geometry, writing and literature. The school also offers both a summer and school-year traditional VPK program.

This ninth- through 12th-grade facility is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college-prep program focuses on giving students the resources needed to excel in college. The school also offers a full selection of arts, clubs and athletic programs.

Triumphant Tots Inc

1425 NE 63rd St., Ocala › (352) 351-2470 › Find them on Facebook

Triumphant Tots accepts children starting at 4 weeks of age through fifth grade. The center offers a free VPK program and before and after-school care for school-age children with pickup from nearby elementary schools.

Victory Academy is a classical Christian college-preparatory school for children ages 3 and 4 through sixth grade (with a grade being added each year through 12th). The school is dedicated to nurturing and challenging the whole person—body, mind and spirit to the glory of God.

The Early Education Center has programs available for children ages 6 weeks through 5 years, including a new VPK curriculum. The school offers grades kindergarten through high school, including a variety of extracurricular and sports programs.

Webster University offers accredited graduate and undergraduate degrees to students with opportunities to study in Ocala or even earn a master’s degree online. Webster is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers a full selection of athletic programs and campus life options.

Editor’s Note: This is not a comprehensive list of education options. Every effort was made to attempt to research and include as many schools as possible and to ensure accurate information was included. Specific details are subject to change at the school’s discretion. Please contact the school directly for the most up-to-date information.